Town and State born- Putman, Ct Dates- Born- October 14, 1900 Died- December 5, 1941
He enlisted in the BritishRoyal Navy at sixteen years of age and, after serving under the White Ensign for four years, joined the U.S. Navy.
Image of the Medal of Honor
On 28 October 1923 Torpedoman Second Class Breault was a member of the crew of USS //O-5// when that submarine was sunk in a collision in the Panama Canal. Though he could have escaped, Breault chose to assist a shipmate, and remained inside the sunken submarine ,trapped in one room, until both were rescued more than a day later. All but three of their fellow shipmates were saved. For his "heroism and devotion to duty" on this occasion, Henry Breault was awarded the Medal of Honor. He received his Medal of Honor from President Calvin Coolidge, in ceremonies at the White House, Washington, DC, on 8 March 1924.
Reason of Death- Following twenty years of U.S. Navy service, Henry Breault became ill with a heart condition.
He died at the Naval Hospital at Newport, Rhode Island, on 4 December 1941. He was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery in Putnam, Connecticut.
Rank and organization: Torpedoman Second Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 14 October, 1900, Putnam, Conn. Accredited to: Vermont. G.O. No.: 125, 20 February 1924. Citation:
For heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the U.S. submarine 0-5 at the time of the sinking of that vessel. On the morning of 28 October 1923, the 0-5 collided with the steamship Abangarez and sank in less than a minute. When the collision occurred, Breault was in the torpedo room. Upon reaching the hatch, he saw that the boat was rapidly sinking. Instead of jumping overboard to save his own life, he returned to the torpedo room to the rescue of a shipmate whom he knew was trapped in the boat, closing the torpedo room hatch on himself. Breault and Brown remained trapped in this compartment until rescued by the salvage party 31 hours later. (Medal presented by President Coolidge at the White House on 8 March 1924.)
Henry Breault
Town and State born- Putman, Ct
Dates-
Born- October 14, 1900
Died- December 5, 1941
He enlisted in the British Royal Navy at sixteen years of age and, after serving under the White Ensign for four years, joined the U.S. Navy.
On 28 October 1923 Torpedoman Second Class Breault was a member of the crew of USS //O-5// when that submarine was sunk in a collision in the Panama Canal. Though he could have escaped, Breault chose to assist a shipmate, and remained inside the sunken submarine ,trapped in one room, until both were rescued more than a day later. All but three of their fellow shipmates were saved. For his "heroism and devotion to duty" on this occasion, Henry Breault was awarded the Medal of Honor. He received his Medal of Honor from President Calvin Coolidge, in ceremonies at the White House, Washington, DC, on 8 March 1924.
Reason of Death- Following twenty years of U.S. Navy service, Henry Breault became ill with a heart condition.
He died at the Naval Hospital at Newport, Rhode Island, on 4 December 1941. He was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery in Putnam, Connecticut.
Rank and organization: Torpedoman Second Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 14 October, 1900, Putnam, Conn. Accredited to: Vermont. G.O. No.: 125, 20 February 1924.
Citation:
For heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the U.S. submarine 0-5 at the time of the sinking of that vessel. On the morning of 28 October 1923, the 0-5 collided with the steamship Abangarez and sank in less than a minute. When the collision occurred, Breault was in the torpedo room. Upon reaching the hatch, he saw that the boat was rapidly sinking. Instead of jumping overboard to save his own life, he returned to the torpedo room to the rescue of a shipmate whom he knew was trapped in the boat, closing the torpedo room hatch on himself. Breault and Brown remained trapped in this compartment until rescued by the salvage party 31 hours later. (Medal presented by President Coolidge at the White House on 8 March 1924.)